I used to think they were a little too new wave for my tastes. But when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical, sense of humor

TP wrote at least 20 years worth of great music through the 70s, 80s, and 90s. If you want to accuse him of "being locked in 1994" (not correct anyway cuz "She's the One" in 1996 was amazing) what year are the Rolling Stones locked in ? Or the Beatles? Or the Who?

TP wrote at least 20 years worth of great music through the 70s, 80s, and 90s. If you want to accuse him of "being locked in 1994" (not correct anyway cuz "She's the One" in 1996 was amazing) what year are the Rolling Stones locked in ? Or the Beatles? Or the Who?

hey I love Tom petty to death. I play his music; perform his music. It's as legitimate as Chuck Berry; Keef, Dylan...my hat is always off to TP.

Now I went to a show in 2008 at the Oakland Arena; the gravity of his older stuff was making it impossible to let the new stuff catch fire. TP was literally begging for a chance; asking people to suspend their attachment to those tunes; they will be played yada yada yada - yet, people sat like church mice during the new stuff; I felt I was cheated out of $65.

So, that's where I find the purchase to make that statement. I PLAY that old stuff; WHAT'S NEXT???

hey I love Tom petty to death. I play his music; perform his music. It's as legitimate as Chuck Berry; Keef, Dylan...my hat is always off to TP.

Now I went to a show in 2008 at the Oakland Arena; the gravity of his older stuff was making it impossible to let the new stuff catch fire. TP was literally begging for a chance; asking people to suspend their attachment to those tunes; they will be played yada yada yada - yet, people sat like church mice during the new stuff; I felt I was cheated out of $65.

So, that's where I find the purchase to make that statement. I PLAY that old stuff; WHAT'S NEXT???

Sure. But name a great singer/songwriter who hasn't gone through the same situation? At some point the fresh songs just aren't coming anymore. The Stones IMO didn't produce anything of note after 1980--Jagger's late 30s. TP was actually one of the longest-lived rock and roll songwriters, writing hits into his late 40s.

I hated Radiohead when they first appeared with "Creep" - just another wallowing-in-self-pity/teen-angst band I thought.

Well, they showed me.

During the 80's I hated bands like Hall and Oates - now realise they are/were purveyors of perfect 3 minute pop. I hated stuff like "Jessie's Girl" - stuff which I thought at the time was for the braindead, now I really like the song and others like it from around that time.

Guns N Roses is a band I have always hated and always will - completely talentless in every way, just a tickbox of what a "great" classic rock band should be. Apeing, very badly, the Stones, Zep etc, right down to the drug troubles and the feuds. When I see pictures of Axl Rose today, I think: "justice!"

Sure. But name a great singer/songwriter who hasn't gone through the same situation? At some point the fresh songs just aren't coming anymore. The Stones IMO didn't produce anything of note after 1980--Jagger's late 30s. TP was actually one of the longest-lived rock and roll songwriters, writing hits into his late 40s.

Colin Hay's solo stuff is MUCH better than his Men at Work stuff. Not saying your point is overall invalid, just a thought that came to mind.